Display of predicted storage state of target computing device during media file synchronization

Abstract

A system and method for synchronizing media files stored on a plurality of computing devices. The system includes a source computing device configured to execute a synchronization engine configured to synchronize media files on the source computing device with copies of the media files on a target computing device. The synchronization engine may be configured to display a file synchronization interface including a synchronization control having a plurality of media file selectors configured to receive user input of a selected set of the media files for synchronization. The system further may include a prediction module configured to compute a predicted storage state of the target computing device based on an available storage capacity of the target computing device and an estimated destination file size of each of the selected set of media files, and display the predicted storage state on a graphical predicted storage state gauge.

1. A system for synchronizing media files stored on a plurality of computing devices, the system comprising a source computing hardware device configured to execute:
 a synchronization engine, and configured to synchronize media files stored on the source computing hardware device with copies of the media files stored on a target computing hardware device, the synchronization engine further configured to display a file synchronization interface on a display associated with the source computing hardware device, the file synchronization interface including a synchronization control having a plurality of media file selectors configured to receive user input for a synchronization operation, which indicates a selected set of the media files for synchronization between the source computing hardware device and the target computing hardware device; and 
 a prediction module configured for computing a predicted storage state of the target computing hardware device based on an available storage capacity of the target computing hardware device and an estimated destination file size for each of the media files of the selected set of media files, and for displaying the predicted storage state on a graphical predicted storage state gauge on the file synchronization interface, the predicted storage state gauge indicating a predicted storage usage of the target computing hardware device were the synchronization operation to be undertaken, the computing and the displaying being repeated as the user input is received prior to the synchronization; 
 wherein the synchronization engine is configured to identify one or more media files for recommended de-selection and to display a removal indicator adjacent the media file selectors corresponding to the one or more media files for recommended de-selection, when the predicted storage state of the target computing hardware device is determined to include an overfill condition. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the predicted storage state gauge is configured to display an overfill message and/or a graphical indication of an overfill condition in response to the prediction module determining that the predicted storage state includes the overfill condition. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the predicted storage state gauge is further configured to display a bar graph indicating the predicted storage state; and wherein the graphical indication of the overfill condition is a predetermined pattern or color that is distinguishable from a graphical indication of an underfill condition. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the synchronization engine is included in a digital media application configured to present the media files to the user and manage synchronization of the media files between the source computing hardware device and target computing hardware device. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the source computing hardware device is a personal computer and the target computing hardware device is a portable media player device, and the source computing hardware device has a larger data storage capacity than the target computing hardware device. 
     
     
       6. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the prediction module is configured to compute the estimated destination file size for each of the media files of the selected set of media files based on one or more file size variation factors that are selected from the group including file trans-coding, file bit-rate, image resolution, and codec file encoding. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the synchronization engine is configured to inhibit transfer of one or more of the media files of the selected set of media files in response to the predicted storage state of the target computing hardware device indicating an overfill condition. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the synchronization engine is configured to identify the one or more media files for recommended de-selection based on metadata associated with the media files, the metadata being selected from a group including file size, user rating, file usage, and file duplication. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the media files include music files, video files, podcasts, game files, and/or image files. 
     
     
       10. A method for synchronizing media files stored on a source computing hardware device and a target computing hardware device, the method comprising:
 displaying a file synchronization interface on a display associated with the source computing hardware device, the file synchronization interface including a synchronization control having a plurality of media file selectors; 
 receiving user input for a synchronization operation via the plurality of media file selectors indicating a selected set of the media files for synchronization between the source computing hardware device and the target computing hardware device; 
 estimating a destination file size of each of the media files of the selected set of media files; 
 computing a predicted storage state of the target computing hardware device based on an available storage capacity of the target computing hardware device and the estimated destination file size of each of the media files of the selected set of media files; 
 displaying the predicted storage state on a graphical predicted storage state gauge on the file synchronization interface, the predicted storage state gauge indicating a predicted storage usage of the target computing hardware device were the synchronization operation to be undertaken; 
 identifying one or more media files for recommended de-selection; 
 displaying on the file synchronization interface, in response to the predicted storage state indicating an overfill condition, a removal indicator for recommended de-selection adjacent the media file selectors corresponding to the one or more media files identified for de-selection; and 
 repeating the computing, the identifying, and the displaying as the user input is received prior to the synchronization. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the synchronization engine is configured to inhibit transfer of one or more of the media files of the selected set of media files in response to the predicted storage state indicating an overfill condition. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the source computing hardware device is a personal computer and the target computing hardware device is a portable media player device, and the personal computer has a larger data storage capacity than the portable media player device. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the estimated destination file size of each of the media files of the selected set of media files is computed based on one or more file size variation factors, the file size variation factors being selected from a group including file trans-coding, file bit-rate, image resolution, and codec file encoding. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the identifying the one or more media files for recommended de-selection is based on metadata associated with the media files, the metadata being selected from a group including file size, user rating, file usage, and file duplication. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the media files include music files, video files, podcasts, game files, and/or image files.